The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Suzhou 215006, China.
Spine J. 2010 Sep;10(9):802-10. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2010.06.019. Epub 2010 Jul 24.
Disc degeneration is a major reason for low back pain and can be caused by apoptosis. The prevention of apoptosis using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may lead to new treatments for low back pain. Previous studies have reported that transplanted MSCs can proliferate and differentiate into cells expressing some of the major phenotypic qualities of nucleus pulposus cells. However, the effects of MSC transplantation on the disc height index (DHI) and apoptosis inhibition have not yet been thoroughly investigated.
The present study evaluates the effects of MSC transplantation on DHI and its potential to inhibit apoptosis.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Random, controlled, animal experiment study.
The annulus fibrosus of 54 white New Zealand rabbits was punctured with a 21-gauge needle, and the nucleus pulposus tissue from the intervertebral discs was aspirated. The degenerative disc model was produced in each rabbit, which were then randomly divided into three groups: degenerative model group; pure fibrinous gelatin-transforming growth factor-beta1 (PFG-TGF-beta1) transplanted group; and MSC-PFG-TGF-beta1 transplanted group. Computed radiography imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological examinations were performed at Weeks 4, 8, and 12.
The transplanted MSCs inhibited apoptosis and slowed the rate of decrease in DHI. Magnetic resonance imaging results showed that the MSC-PFG-TGF-beta1 group had less degeneration and a slower decrease in DHI compared with both the degenerative model and PFG-TGF-beta1 groups. An increased quantity of nucleus pulposus and type II collagen content and a decrease in the rate of cell apoptosis were noted in the MSC-PFG-TGF-beta1 group.
Mesenchymal stem cells can slow the rate at which the DHI decreases. This effect may be because of the inhibition of apoptosis by MSCs.
椎间盘退变是腰痛的主要原因，可由细胞凋亡引起。使用间充质干细胞（MSCs）预防细胞凋亡可能为腰痛的治疗提供新的途径。先前的研究已经报道，移植的 MSCs 可以增殖并分化为表达一些核髓核细胞主要表型特征的细胞。然而，MSCs 移植对椎间盘高度指数（DHI）和抑制细胞凋亡的影响尚未得到彻底研究。
本研究评估 MSCs 移植对 DHI 的影响及其抑制细胞凋亡的潜力。
研究设计/设置：随机、对照、动物实验研究。
用 21 号针头穿刺 54 只白色新西兰兔的纤维环，抽吸椎间盘的髓核组织。在每只兔子中产生退行性椎间盘模型，然后将其随机分为三组：退行性模型组；单纯纤维蛋白明胶转化生长因子-β1（PFG-TGF-β1）移植组；MSC-PFG-TGF-β1 移植组。在第 4、8 和 12 周进行计算机放射成像、磁共振成像和组织学检查。
移植的 MSCs 抑制了细胞凋亡并减缓了 DHI 的下降速度。磁共振成像结果显示，与退行性模型组和 PFG-TGF-β1 组相比，MSC-PFG-TGF-β1 组退变程度较轻，DHI 下降速度较慢。MSC-PFG-TGF-β1 组可见髓核数量增加、Ⅱ型胶原含量增加，细胞凋亡率降低。
间充质干细胞可以减缓 DHI 下降的速度。这种作用可能是由于 MSCs 抑制了细胞凋亡。
